"Can't put Eli Manning in HOF and leave Russell Wilson": Stephen A. Smith makes bold claim about Giants QB after his recent struggles

Russell Wilson was benched as the starting quarterback for the New York Giants on Tuesday in favor of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. This has sparked a conversation about the legacy of Wilson, whose performance has seen a dramatic decline over the last few years.

On Wednesday's edition of "First Take," Stephen A Smith spoke about Wilson's potential place in the Hall of Fame and compared him to a Giants legend.

"You can't put Eli Manning in the Hall of the Fame and leave Russell Wilson out."

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

Russell Wilson began his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent nine seasons. This is where he was most successful, leading the team to two consecutive Super Bowls and winning one of them in convincing fashion.

He would have been a two-time Super Bowl champion if it were not for a now historic interception by the Patriots' Malcolm Butler. Throughout his tenure with the Seahawks, Wilson was regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the league and a likely Hall of Famer.

Since being traded to the Denver Broncos in 2021, things have been completely different. Wilson has struggled to replicate the success he had with the Seahawks, and his three performances with the Giants this season may have brought to an end a four-year downward slide in form.

Manning, meanwhile, is eligible for the Hall of Fame, but did not get in on the first ballot this year. It is very likely that he will make it one day. He was never the most consistent quarterback, but his two Super Bowl wins in 15 years with the Giants should be enough to seal his spot.

Russell Wilson's teammates think his career is over

The benching of Russell Wilson suggests that his time as a starting quarterback is over. This is a sentiment that some of his former teammates share about him as well. Two former teammates told Fox Sports on Wednesday:

"He’s a backup... Our team was so good on defense and special teams, along with a run game to wear down the other team. I do think he’s still phenomenal in the two-minute drill, though."

Wilson has thrown for 778 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in three games this season.

About the author

Ben Tredinnick is a journalist who covers college football and the NFL at Sportskeeda who is currently studying for a masters in Data Science. His degree in Psychology has helped him gain an in-depth understanding of the minds of coaches.

Ben has been involved in sports writing since 2022 and covered the NFL previously. His strengths include providing in-depth profiles of athletes and coaches, with a particular focus on development, and looking at which teams could be in the hunt for today's college stars.

Ben enjoys following college sports more than the NBA or NFL because there is more variation in terms of playstyles. The tournaments are often more competitive than the major leagues, and due to the constant turnover of players, there are rarely any "superteams" in college sports.

He prioritizes research, looks at multiple sources and publications to make sure he gets the full picture of the story before writing. He tries not to write from a one-sided perspective to allow the reader to be able to make their mind up on their own.

A Texas Longhorns fan, as well as a massive New York Giants fan, some of his favorite college players of all time are Arch Manning, Tim Tebow and Reggie Bush.

When he is not working, Ben enjoys watching films (especially Godzilla) and spending time with his cat.

Know More

Giants Nation! Check out the latest New York Giants Schedule and dive into the Giants Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Ben Tredinnick